tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post5562978811174893573..comments2015-03-31T13:34:19.610-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: Labors of Hercules painter / FRI 8-20-10 / Objet d'art auction Octopussy / Rosaceous ornamental / Simple trattoria dressingRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-62976018376372226672010-09-25T15:39:26.979-04:002010-09-25T15:39:26.979-04:00Fine puzzle, lots of smiles and head slaps. What&...Fine puzzle, lots of smiles and head slaps. What&#39;s everyone&#39;s problem with this? My only speed bump was the G shared by Simple Trattroria Dressing and Hollywood techie&#39;s field.Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16456539888262250267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-44075154389607820232010-09-24T21:41:06.705-04:002010-09-24T21:41:06.705-04:00Guess I&#39;ve spent too much time reading the SPO...Guess I&#39;ve spent too much time reading the SPORTS section lately cuz ASHE &amp; FLOPSHOT were gimmes. However, not much else other than PTOLEMY, MAO &amp; MAHJONGG. DNF&#39;ed due to the southeast. Also, my BOXER worked on his TONE, BOBS, JABS and WIND but never a BONE!Waxy in Montrealhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04395751487137805245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86345390376655394662010-09-24T20:10:36.945-04:002010-09-24T20:10:36.945-04:00A hand up, 5 weeks later, for every single mistake...A hand up, 5 weeks later, for every single mistake that is mentioned above, plus a few of my own (spOtSHOT sounded pretty good to me)but my ultimate demise resulted from my absolute refusal to give up on SHEA (like @WADE 10:29am)at the top of the northeast. This despite my certainty that aSSAYTESTS could not possibly be right, and desperately wanting PTAS, which just didn&#39;t work the way I had things. Never heard of ASHE stadium so everything below it remained blank, except ONE which I did manage to get by figuring that &quot;bread&quot; in this instance referres to money. All in all, not much joy for me in this one, but I take pride in &quot;almost&quot; finishing a puzzle that a few months ago would have left me completely demoralized. Captcha is fiestiz - how I don&#39;t feel after a puzzle like this one.The Last Wordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03903353503511480168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57849047840969599202010-08-22T02:17:25.629-04:002010-08-22T02:17:25.629-04:00My love and I had the G that would eventually belo...My love and I had the G that would eventually belong in &quot;BARGE&quot; early on, but (like the puzzler who mentioned &quot;TARGE&quot;) the false T of &quot;TONE&quot; where the B should have been, and got desperate enough to &quot;research&quot; (a.k.a. to cheat w/ Wikipedia) and learn easily that great quantities of fireworks are manufactured in TIOGA, Penn. Once we were forced to give that up, we eventually had &quot;SARGE&quot; and were loath to give <i>that</i> up. At length, the utter nonsense of &quot;SONE&quot; suggested BONE as slightly less absurd for a prize-fighter to work on. (Eventually she corrected my misconstruing of &quot;boxer&quot;.)<br /><br />I was convinced that the three reasonable answers &quot;TIOGA&quot;, &quot;SARGE&quot; and &quot;BARGE&quot; were an intentionally elaborate evil trap by the composer -- so I&#39;m disappointed to see that no one else complains about either of those two false lights!GR Zempelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52720131403746173802010-08-20T22:43:05.266-04:002010-08-20T22:43:05.266-04:00@Andrea, thanks for your confidence. Sure, in a mi...@Andrea, thanks for your confidence. Sure, in a million years, I could have gotten it : ) <br /><br />I followed your advice (I&#39;m good at that) and (re)read @ Howard B --Thank you HB for the encouragement to all those who struggle towards the end of the week , you are a gentleman and a scholar. I also watched @Sanfranman&#39;s link to the FLOP SHOT. Actually that was pretty amazing, the amount of deliberateness, and physics, that goes into something with such a sloppy, floppy name. I was very impressed. And I will not forget it.<br /><br />So, as per usual, I have been educated and enlightened by my blogfriends. Thank you!foodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-79716681955121456832010-08-20T22:16:37.510-04:002010-08-20T22:16:37.510-04:00This week&#39;s relative difficulty ratings. See m...This week&#39;s relative difficulty ratings. See my <a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=35115061&amp;postID=3588389571383499624&amp;isPopup=true" rel="nofollow">7/30/2009 post</a> for an explanation. In a nutshell, the higher the ratio, the higher this week&#39;s median solve time is relative to the average for the corresponding day of the week.<br /><br />All solvers (this week&#39;s median solve time, average for day of week, ratio, percentile, rating)<br /><br />Mon 6:38, 6:58, 0.95, 28%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 11:09, 8:52, 1.26, 97%, Challenging<br />Wed 11:34, 11:44, 0.99, 54%, Medium<br />Thu 18:19, 19:17, 0.95, 44%, Medium<br />Fri 33:25, 26:39, 1.25, 90%, Challenging<br /><br />Top 100 solvers<br /><br />Mon 3:33, 3:43, 0.96, 33%, Easy-Medium<br />Tue 5:38, 4:34, 1.23, 97%, Challenging<br />Wed 5:35, 5:46, 0.97, 44%, Medium<br />Thu 8:22, 9:14, 0.91, 40%, Medium<br />Fri 17:25, 13:00, 1.34, 90%, Challengingsanfranman59http://www.blogger.com/profile/15118732156312301425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-92127177709429747872010-08-20T21:43:20.939-04:002010-08-20T21:43:20.939-04:00@ JC66,
I rescind my objection.
Fishmonger is fami...@ JC66,<br />I rescind my objection.<br />Fishmonger is familiar.<br />The imp in me wonders about the &quot;mong&quot; roots relaying to a seller or promoter. What a crazy and wonderful language English is!Moonchildnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52353487215561252672010-08-20T21:34:54.536-04:002010-08-20T21:34:54.536-04:00@ Wade
Hand up for MUGS/MEDS
@ Moonchild
Fish...@ Wade<br /><br />Hand up for MUGS/MEDS<br /><br />@ Moonchild <br /><br />Fish MONGERJC66http://www.blogger.com/profile/05324615675333287919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-83990116733144564382010-08-20T21:04:24.436-04:002010-08-20T21:04:24.436-04:00DNF. More like didn&#39;t start. Had FLAGG, miss...DNF. More like didn&#39;t start. Had FLAGG, misspelled MAHJOhnG (I play it at night.) Was thinking of Fiorello LaGuardia for 45A. Brain freeze. Macy&#39;s fireworks on a BARGE. Gave up and went for German food with a good friend. @r.alphbunker. Just last night I read that &quot;yeah, yeah&quot; anecdote in a mystery book by Michael Bowen. @Howard B. Good advice, I&#39;ll keep it in mind. @mac Hae a nice trip. Maybe tomorrrow will puzzle better.Sparkynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69198275210494904202010-08-20T20:23:10.329-04:002010-08-20T20:23:10.329-04:00This posting is a perfect example of why Rex&#39;s...This posting is a perfect example of why Rex&#39;s blog is so addicting. Rex isn&#39;t afraid to share his emotional reaction to a puzzle yet always manages to do it in a way that&#39;s respectful of the constructor.<br /><br />I found today&#39;s puzzle excoriating but was exhilirated to see that Rex also found it exasperating.donkosnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-73823268028070894142010-08-20T20:16:42.020-04:002010-08-20T20:16:42.020-04:00Here in Maine, we shoot fireworks off a barge. Unl...Here in Maine, we shoot fireworks off a barge. Unless we shoot them off a beach, which unfortunately also has 5 letters and starts with &quot;b&quot;.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-80106104975405698052010-08-20T18:35:53.578-04:002010-08-20T18:35:53.578-04:00That FLOP SHOT sound you heard last night was me t...That FLOP SHOT sound you heard last night was me throwing in the towel after about 1-1/2 hrs. Hopeful for a not so tricky one tonight.<br /><br />@mac - Have a wonderful and safe trip.chefwenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03999206352243329280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33225707102053042022010-08-20T18:25:27.595-04:002010-08-20T18:25:27.595-04:00DNF for me - lots of mistakes: METS instead of AS...DNF for me - lots of mistakes: METS instead of ASHE, MOSSES for TINSEL (thinking of Spanish Moss), REDDROPLET for WIDOWSPEAK, etc.<br /><br />I&#39;ll keep practicing...JenCThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18290169184354765840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-969663341474115542010-08-20T18:04:56.880-04:002010-08-20T18:04:56.880-04:00My errands included lots of waiting around today, ...My errands included lots of waiting around today, so this puzzle provided ample companionship. Most other days with a puzzle this demanding I would have thrown in the towel with only about two thirds of the squares filled in.<br /><br />Stuck for a while with OBEY for Assent to relent as well a being another BEAVER victim. And my boxer hung on the ROPE for way too long.fergushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-1035147497063596372010-08-20T17:56:09.435-04:002010-08-20T17:56:09.435-04:00I wish I spoke Italian. I did end up having AGLIOE...I wish I spoke Italian. I did end up having AGLIOEOLIO for lunch today and it was delicious. <br /><br />@Mac ... I wish you a wonderful safe trip! Also, I agree with you in thinking the dressing was oil and vinegar for a salad, not the oil and garlic for pasta. Just another misleading clue which seems to have angered a bunch here today. Very polarizing puzzle.johohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12708487230515532492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-71689582038448155382010-08-20T17:40:13.861-04:002010-08-20T17:40:13.861-04:00Enjoyed this one but you know me, I like it hard.Enjoyed this one but you know me, I like it hard.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04754156636762779545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-32485055610122008242010-08-20T17:27:48.349-04:002010-08-20T17:27:48.349-04:00Natick (def): RENI/JESSIE
I had a Y in that spot b...Natick (def): RENI/JESSIE<br />I had a Y in that spot because RENI just didn&#39;t look right and both clues just seemed so obscure that Jessye could be correct.Doc Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540112168511893896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-9761354758958310182010-08-20T17:17:14.703-04:002010-08-20T17:17:14.703-04:00having PTAS under the stadium is what made it ASHE...having PTAS under the stadium is what made it ASHE for me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-59629790395180198392010-08-20T17:14:57.438-04:002010-08-20T17:14:57.438-04:00@andrea cees michaels - love the Palin reference!
...@andrea cees michaels - love the Palin reference!<br /><br />As someone mentioned, Shea Stadium was torn down... So wouldn&#39;t that make:<br />&quot;Queen&#39;s ____ stadium&quot; HAVE to be &quot;Ashe?&quot;<br />Citi is referred to as Citi Field, not Citi Stadium.<br /><br />Would the clue be required to state &quot;former&quot; in order to be Shea?<br /><br />Thoughts?<br />GregThe Big Ehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00383322329027962325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-22924123086468605992010-08-20T17:12:27.902-04:002010-08-20T17:12:27.902-04:00@foodie
If I could do it, you could do it!
(at lea...@foodie<br />If I could do it, you could do it!<br />(at least in a million years! So agree with @howardB...plus look at the video @sanfranman posted)<br /><br />I refused to google, put it down and came back to it an hour later (thus one hour of my two-hour solve). The key (for me) was realizing that SHEA was ASHE...and getting those goddamned CEES, PLURALIZED-type misdirections!<br /><br />@nde<br />wow! I always learn so much from you! Thanks!<br /><br />and @glitch UZIS = ha!<br /><br />@ulrich<br />I don&#39;t remember the 2008 posting, I think we had the discussion again much more recently...maybe when Ann ERDE was a finalist at the ACPT.<br /><br />@Zeke<br />Really knowing Fannie Flagg from gameshows was really what started it off for me today. I agree it&#39;s hard to reconcile the fact that she was a real writer...<br />(Wasn&#39;t she also on &quot;Mama&#39;s Place&quot; or am I conflating her with Carol Lawrence?) <br />Felt the same way when I saw Kitty Carlisle Hart sing in a film... <br />or saw Yvonne deCarlo not as Lily Munster. Mind-blowing!<br /><br />AND I also agree about CRIB sheets seeming more for mathmatical equations or some such quick peek technique. Maybe we should ask Sarah Palin?andrea cees michaelsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-16030077797665336782010-08-20T16:56:51.924-04:002010-08-20T16:56:51.924-04:00More of a reminiscence than a criticism, but does ...More of a reminiscence than a criticism, but does &quot;essay&quot; test really fit with &quot;crib&#39;?<br /><br />As a long-ago graduate of a small New England college, I signed the honor statement at the bottom of each exam. So it is not that I would have ever used a crib. But under the rubric of &#39;just sayin ...&#39;:<br /><br />Essay questions generally ended &quot;Compare and Contrast&quot; or (and even more terrifying) &quot;Comment - use as many blue books as you need&quot;. A &#39;crib&#39; wasn&#39;t going to be much help on those suckers!<br /><br />But cases and endings in Greek and Latin, a botanical field guide, or some formulae on a cuff might have come in handy.Dick Swartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14332275830177669662010-08-20T16:45:33.252-04:002010-08-20T16:45:33.252-04:00@Noam: very good :-)! Tactics sounds like actually...@Noam: very good :-)! Tactics sounds like actually doing something, while strategy is just thinking about it. <br /><br />Am I imagining it, or are the captchas a lot more complicated?machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-27509659849524948122010-08-20T16:36:29.642-04:002010-08-20T16:36:29.642-04:00@mac: I understand the Stratego/TAKTIKO connection...@mac: I understand the Stratego/TAKTIKO connection, but (coming from chess) I usually think of strategy and tactics as complementary: short-range tactics, long-range strategy. A memorable description of the difference (alas the author&#39;s name is not as memorable) says that tactics is what you do when you know what to do, whereas strategy is what you do when you don&#39;t know what to do.<br /><br />Now if I could only figure out whether the meaning of &quot;is&quot; is &quot;is&quot;...<br /><br />NDENoam D. Elkiesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-66709667196999261792010-08-20T16:33:05.252-04:002010-08-20T16:33:05.252-04:00Man. Speaking of &quot;Oh, the huge manatee&quot;...Man. Speaking of &quot;Oh, the huge manatee&quot;...<br /><br />I thought I had finished this quickly and easily (for me) but came here to find I had royally eff-ed up the center. My tour de force of errors included 28A chOPSHOT (hitting out of deep rough?); 24D PhAsE (iffy, I admit); 28D cLeGG (any name would sound as sweet); 33A gEesE (V, check); and 33D gANELSAW (OK, so I shouldn&#39;t have believed in that G - but woodworking I know from nothing). Here&#39;s to better luck next time. <br /><br />Fireworks on a BARGE, though, I get, here on Lake Michigan.Jennynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-6629205285453687722010-08-20T16:17:12.235-04:002010-08-20T16:17:12.235-04:00@Ulrich: Yes, the German recipe suggested adding ...@Ulrich: Yes, the German recipe suggested adding Muskat, with which I concur.miriam bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03506593846362044050noreply@blogger.com